The number of cases of Covid-19 for Carroll County continue to be low with an estimated 21 active cases of Covid-19 reported to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) as of Nov. 14, and a total of 119 deaths in the county attributed to Covid. That compares to 32 active cases in Carroll County on Oct. 17. Statewide, active cases have remained level in the past month with 3,059 cases Nov. 14 compared to 3,140 Oct. 17.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been recommending people get their bivalent Covid booster now before the holidays to help prevent getting ill and transmitting the virus to others.
Six weeks ago, the bivalent boosters weren’t that easy to find, especially without leaving Eureka Springs. But now Covid vaccines are available by appointment by calling the Eureka Springs Hospital Family Clinic at (479) 253-1310. The Carroll County Health Unit and several pharmacies in Berryville also are offering bivalent boosters.
Pfizer reported Nov. 4 that Bivalent booster produced about four-times higher neutralizing antibody titers (solution concentration) against Omicron BA.4/BA.5 sub lineages compared to the original Covid-19 vaccine in individuals older than 55. However, the BA.5 variant that dominated in the U.S. this summer has now decreased to 29.7 percent of total infections, according to the CDC. CDC said in its place are a large number of new variants, some of which contain mutations that appeared more evasive of antibodies than earlier variants.
Eureka Springs School Supt. Bryan Pruitt said there has been little disruption at the schools because of illness so far this year.
“We have had just a little bit of flu and a little bit of stomach bug,” Pruitt said. “We had some RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) earlier, but that has kind of calmed back down. It seems like everything has been going really good health wise. We have had some illnesses, but nothing unexpected.”
There were some cases of Covid earlier in the year.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences was scheduled to hold a childhood vaccination clinic at the school Nov. 16. There has been concern expressed by health authorities across the country that some children have gotten behind on routine childhood vaccinations because of pandemic disruptions.
The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement is urging Arkansans to get the flu vaccine before gathering for the holidays. “We’re seeing a higher level of flu activity, both in cases and hospitalizations, than we’ve seen this early in the flu season in a long time,” ACHI President and CEO Dr. Joe Thompson wrote in a newsletter. “It can take a couple of weeks to receive maximum protection from a vaccination, so please do not delay. Get your shot now. Let’s spread cheer, not the flu, for the holidays.”
The flu has ramped up early this year. CDC reports U.S. flu hospitalizations are higher than they have been at this point in the flu season in more than a decade. In Arkansas, the flu intensity level is classified as “very high” with nine flu deaths so far this season.
ADH said the early start of the flu season is especially concerning because healthcare providers are also responding to a surge in RSV and continuing to treat cases of Covid-19. The three illnesses have been referred to as a potential tripledemic.